Wheeled vehicle



Feb. 1, i938.

M, H. TUFT WHEELED VEHICLE Original Filed June l5, 1954 Patented Feb. l, 1938 WHEELED VEHICLE Miles n. Tun, noch Island, lu., assignmto neere- & Company, Moline, Ill., a corporation of lllinois Original application June 15, 1934, Serial No.

Divided and this application February 8, 1935, Serial No. 5,523

2. claims. y(ci. 28o-142) This application is a division of my copending application, Serial No. 730,758, flled June 15, 1934, `now Patent 2,059,419 issued Nov. 3, 1936.

The present invention relates generally to wheeled `vehicles and the like, and particularly to running gears for wheeled vehicles such as trailers, wagons and similar.- vehicles.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved reach pole construction by which the front and rear .gears are connected together for relative angular displacement about a generally longitudinal axis, whereby the vehicle can easily accommodate itself to ground and road irregularities without the use of loosely connected parts which are likely to wear, rattle, or lose their'p'osition or adjustment.

In running gears for trailers, wagons and the like, employing four wheels as distinguished from trailers and vehicles of the -cart type employing two wheels, it is necessary that the front running gear be able to rotate about a generally longitudinal axis with respect to the rear gear. Heretofore, it has been proposed to provide this required relative rotation by making the reach pole in two sections, one iixed to each gear and the two sections being connected together for rotation one with respect to the other', as by making both sections of tubular cross section with one disposed within and adapted to rotate relative to the other. However, under certain conditions such constructions have been found to be objectionable, especially when used in trailers and the like designed for high speed operation, for under these conditions, the connection between the two reach pole sections, by which the required relative rotation is secured may become a source of annoying rattles, especially after the connection becomes worn.

With these features in mind, thel principal object of the present invention is, specically, the provision of a two-section reach pole, each being of tubular cross section and one telescoping within the other, the section of smaller cross section being made longer than the other and extending from one end of the vehicle to the other end thereof, with the smaller reach pole section being fixedly connected to the larger reach polev section in which it is disposed, such fixed connections being rigid and permanent. By virtue of such construction,l the required relative rotation of one gear with respect to the other is ob-Y tained in the torque deflection of the reachpole section of smaller diameter. In its more generic aspects, this feature of the present invention may suitable form of bearing means. the axle 5 but parallel with respect' thereto is a the vehicle with respect to the other gear through an angle of approximately 45 without stressing the torsionally yieldable reach pole construction beyond its elastic limit.

These and-other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred construction, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is atop plan view of the running gear 1 or chassis of a vehicle embodying the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken along the line 2;-2 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a section taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawing, the wheeled Vehicle with which the present invention is concerned has been illustrated as in the form of. a trailer or wagon which comprises a running gear having a rear truck or gear 2 and a front truck or gear 3 connected together by a telescopic reach pole construction indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 4. Referring first to therear gear 2, it will be seen that this part comprises an axle 5 on the outer ends of which there are rear supporting wheels 6 and 'I journaled by any Disposed above rigid member 8 which is formed of preferably two angle irons 9 and I0, as best shown inFlgure 2. The member 8 is disposed an appreciable distance above the axle 5 but has its ends connected with the shaft 5 by suitable bracket means.

Each bracket means is made up of a pair of plates each of Y which has a semi-cylindrical recess formed in the lower end thereof, the two recesses of each pair forming a cylindrical opening for receiving the axle 5, and the plates of each pair are rigidly bolted together and clamped around Y the axle 5 by means of a plurality of bolts, as

shown and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 5,724, filed February 9, 1985. At its ce trai portion, the axle 0 is connected to the angles 0 and I0 by a pair of plates I0 which are disposed between the vertical legs of the angles 9 and I0, as best shown in'Flgure 2, and rigidly connected therewith by means of a bolt 2|.` A pairof straps I0 embrace the shaft 0 and are securely bolted to the lower ends of the plates I0 by means of bolts 22 or the like. A nller plate 20 is disposed between the rigid member 0, comprising the angles 0 and I0, and the axle l. At its central portion the illler plate 20 extends between the plates I0.

The rear gear is braced by truss means which not only strengthens the axle but at the same time provides for adjusting the pitch of the r'ear wheels 6 and 1. The truss means consist of a pair of truss rods 20, one disposed-on each side of the axle 0, and these rods bear against an abutment member 21 disposed in the center of the axle 0. Preferably,pthe abutment- 21 is in the form of a triangular piece welded to the inner sides of the straps |0. but if desired the abutment 21 may be welded to the axle or may be formed as an integral part of one or both of the straps I0.

'I'he truss rods 20 extend outwardly and upwardly from the abutment block 21 laterally in opposite directions and have their outer ends adjustably connected with the aforesaid bracket means at points'above the axle 0. A rear bolster is provided for supporting the rear of the bed or body of the trailer and is preferably formed of a single piece of T-bar stock. 'Ihe rear bolster is carried on a transversely disposed semi-elliptic spring 36. the central portion of which is bolted to the top of the axle member 0 by means of bolts 40 and 4| disposed .on opposite sides of the spring and passing through holes in the flanges of the angle members 0 and l0. The upper threaded ends of the bolts 40 and 4| pass through the rear ends of straps which will be referred to later but which are such that when the bolts are tightened,

the central section of a spring 00 is rigidly fastened to the angle members 0 and I0 forming the member 0. Y

The front gear 0 comprises a transverse beam 40 which is preferably formed of plow beam stock and is supported at its outer ends on a pair of dirigible wheels 44 and 40. Each of the front dirigible wheels includes or'is connected with assisted greatly on rough and rutted roads by the elimination of pole whip.

A front bolster similar to bolster for the rear gear 2 has been provided for the front gear 0 and is supported in a similar manner on a transversely disposed leaf lspring 00 'which rests uponl ceive the inner threaded ends of truss rods 0I.`

These truss rods extend upwardly and laterally the front and rear running gears together, comprises two telescopically associated reach pole sections 05 and 00. Preferably these sections are of tubular pipe stock, and the outer diameter of the section 00 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of therear section 00 to provide for the telescopic association mentioned. The section 00, hereinafter referred to as the forward section because it is connected 'with the front gear, is ilxed at its front end to the forward gear 2 and has its forward endextending through perforations in the lower portions of the plates 14 and is disposed below the front axle beam 40. as Y best shown in Figure 2. In order to ilx the forward end of the forward section 00 tothe front gear 0 a bar 00 is disposed in openings inthe lower sections of the plates 14 and is welded to the U-shaped bracket 10. If desired, the bar 00 may also be welded to the plates 14 directly. The rear end of the bar 00 is provided with a suitable opening to receive a bolt |00, and this bolt is utilized in securely ilxing'the forward end of the reach pole section' 00 to the front gear. Secured to the lower portion of the forward reach pole section 00 is a reenforcing strap |02, which may be bolted to the reach pole section 00. The bolt |00 passes through the reenforcing strap |02 and a second bolt |00 disposed in the forward portion of the reach pole section 00 also passes through the reenforcing strap |02 and the forward end of a second reenforcing strap |00 which may also be bolted to the reach pole section 00 if desired. l

The forward reach pole section 00 is braced to the front gear 0 by means of a pair of upwardly and forwardly extending braces |01 secured, as by bolts |00,l to a short transverse top plateu |00, as best shown in Figure 1. A U-shaped strap |I0 embraces the reach pole section 00 and has its upper ends secured in place by the bolts |00.

Preferably, the rear end ofthe reenforcing strap |00 is welded to the plate |00. The forward ends of the braces |01 are bolted to the top of the front spring 00 by means of the bolts 1| and 12, the forwardmost ends of the braces |01 having apertures to receive these bolts so that when they are tightened both the braces |01 and the spring 00 are securely fastened to the front gear 2. In addition, a spacer ||2 is associated with the rear. bolts 1| and serves to hold the braces |01 in proper position.

The forward pole section 0l is further braced to the front gear 0 by means of forwardly and laterally outwardly extending braces Ill and ||0 which are connected at their forward ends to bolts 00 at the outer ends of the front axle beam 40. yAt their inner ends the braces ||0 and ||0 are welded, as best shown in Figure 2, to the U- shaped bracket ||0. Auxiliary braces |20 and |2| are connected between the braces ||0 and ||4. intermediate the ends thereof, and the stationary .portion of the front wheel spindle lassembly 41 at each end of the front axle 40.

'I'he rear reach pole section 00 is nxedly connectedtotherearrunninggear2byaconstruction somewhat similar to that described above for the front gear 0. The rear end of the rear pole section 00 'extends through perforations in then plates I8, as best shown in Figure 2, and preferably the rear pole section 96 is welded to these plates. The rear reach pole section is braced by a pair of upwardly and rearwardly extending braces |25 and |26 which are fixed at their forward ends to a short transverse bar |21, as by bolt means |28, which is also utilized to secure thereto the ends of a U-shaped member |29 which embraces the rear reach pole section 96 and is otherwise positioned in a manner similar to the U- shaped bracket |||l associated with the forward bracing structure.n At their rear ends the braces |25 and |26 are connected to the top of the rear spring 36 by the bolts 40 and 4|, the rear sections of the braces |25 and |26 receiving both of these bolts. A spacer |36 is associated with the bolts 4|. The rear pole section 96 is further braced by means of a pair of braces |33 and |34, welded'at their forward ends to the U-shaped bracket embracing the reach pole section 96 and secured in place by the bolts |29, andthe rear ends of the diagonal braces |33 and |34 are bolted or otherwise secured to the brackets atthe outer ends of the rear axle 5.

The tubular reach pole sections 95 and 96 are connected together at their rear ends by means of a bolt |40, or the equivalent, which is disposed in aligned perforations in the reach pole sections. In order that the two sections may be clamped rigidly together the upper perforation in the reach pole section 96 is made large enough to receive a bushing |42 (Figure 3) which is forced tightly down upon the upper side of the inner forward pole section 95 by any suitable means, as by a nut |43. The section 96 is provided with additional openings, indicated by the reference numeral |45, in which the bolt |46 may be disposed to lengthen the wheel base of the vehicle.

When the vehicle traverses uneven ground and the points of contact of the supporting wheels do not lie in the same plane so that the forward gear 3 is displaced angularly about a generally longitudinal axis with respect to the rear gear 2, this relative displacement is provided for by the reach pole section 95 yielding in torsion, and the tor.

sional yieldability of the latter is established by the fact that the member 95 is of appreciable length and is rigidly connected at its forward end to the front gear and at its rearmost end to the rear gear, the distance between the points of connection being sulcient to provide the required torsional deflection. Since the connections at the points mentioned are rigid and permanent there is no likelihood of any weaving of the trailer or of rattles developing' at this point, and since there is no relative movement at these points of connection, no wear can occur.

While I have shown and described above the preferred embodiment in which the principles of the present invention have been illustrated, it is to be understood by those skilled in the art that my invention is not to be limited to the specific means shown and described but that, in fact, widely different means may be employed in the practice of the broader aspects of my invention. Y

What I claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A wheel supported vehicle comprising a. front gear, a rear gear, and means connecting said gears comprising a pair 'of reach pole sections rigidly connected with said gears, respectively, one of said sections being torsionally yieldable and having one end rigidly connected to one of said gears, and holding means adjacent the other end of said yieldable reach pole section for rigidly connecting said other end of the yieldable section with said other section selectively at any one of a plurality of longitudinally spaced points on said other section so that the amount of torsional yielding of said first section remains constant ior any given stress independent of the distance between the front and rear gears.v

2. A wheel supported vehicle comprising a' front gear, a rear gear, and means connecting said gears comprising a pair of telescopically associated reach pole sections rigidly connected with said gears, respectively, one of said sections being torsionally yieldable and having one end rigidly connected to. one of said gears, the other end having an aperture therethrough, the other reach pole section being rigidly connected to the other gear, and means extending through said aperture for rigidly connecting said other end of the yieldable reach pole section with said other section selectively at any one of a plurality oi.' longitudinally spaced points on said other section so that the amount of torsional yielding of said iirst section remains constant for any given y stress independent of the distance between the front and rear gears.

. MILES H. TUFT. 

